Furniture with retractable vanity

ABSTRACT

A furniture unit including a case having a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the top.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/829,050, filed, Oct. 11, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly to a retractable vanity structure for use with an item of furniture.

Dressing tables or “vanities” include a working surface and usually a mirror so that a person can perform hygiene, apply cosmetics, etc. Ordinarily a vanity is a separate piece of furniture which serves only a single function and takes up valuable floor space when not in use.

Accordingly, there is a need for a vanity which can be stored out of the way when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the present invention, which provides a furniture item having a retractable vanity structure mounted therein.

Therefore, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a furniture item having a retractable vanity structure mounted therein.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a furniture unit including a case comprising a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer. The drawer is openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the drawer top.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is movable into position with respect to a drawer bottom to form a substantially continuous working surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is pivotably connected to the drawer bottom.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer front is retainable in the position forming the substantially continuous working surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the top comprises a front and a rear and the front is pivotably connected to the rear.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, pivoting the front of the top provides the mirror.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the lights are low voltage.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a furniture unit includes a plurality of drawers in a front surface of the unit and one of the drawers includes a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel. A bottom panel is coupled to the front panel, and a pair of opposed side panels are each coupled to the bottom panel. Also, a top panel includes a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the continuous working surface includes a plastic laminate.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the furniture unit includes a pair of opposed drawer slides, each of the pair connected to one of the opposed side panels.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom panel is coupled to the front panel with at least one hinge.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a fixed section of the top panel.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a hinge connecting the pivotable section of the top panel to the fixed section.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a lid support for retaining the pivotable section of the top panel in the open position.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit includes a lid support for retaining the front panel in its open position.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a drawer for a furniture unit includes a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel. The drawer further includes a bottom panel coupled to the front panel and a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel. Also, the drawer includes a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dresser constructed according to the present invention, with a vanity thereof in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dresser of FIG. 1, with a vanity in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dresser of FIG. 1 with the vanity in a fully opened position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vanity shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the dresser showing a alternative light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 depicts a portion of an exemplary dresser 10 including a top 12 and a front surface 14. The basic construction of the dresser 10 may be similar to that of other conventional case goods, and the dresser 10 may include a plurality of drawers 16 and/or doors 18 in the front surface 14. A dressing table or “vanity” 20 is incorporated into the dresser 10. In FIG. 1 the vanity 20 is in a closed position, stored within the dresser 10, and is hidden from view by a front panel 22 in an upright position.

FIG. 2 shows the vanity 20 in an extended position. The vanity 20 is made up of the front panel 22, a bottom panel 24, a pair of opposed side panels 26, and a top panel 28. In this example, the top panel 28 has a rear section 28A fixed to the side panels 26, and a forward section 28B mounted to the rear section 28A by hinges. However, the top panel 28 could be a single unit, and any configuration which will allow the top panel 28 to pivot open and closed may be used. The top panel 28 is shown lying in a closed, generally horizontal position on the top edges of the side panels 26. In this example, the vanity 20 is mounted to the dresser 10 by conventional drawer slides 30, but other mounting means may be used to suit a particular application.

FIG. 3 illustrates the vanity 20 in a fully opened position. The front panel 22 is folded down into a generally horizontal open position. Its interior face and the top face of the bottom panel 24 form a continuous working surface 32. The top panel 28 is pivoted open in an upright position to expose its interior face. A mirror 34 is mounted to the interior face of the top panel 28 (or more specifically, to the front section 28B of the top panel 28). One or more lights 36 are also provided near the mirror 34. The lights 36 may be self-contained, battery-powered units, or they may be powered by an external source such as household electrical current. The lights 36 may be provided with multiple bulbs and/or filters to simulate various lighting conditions (e.g. indoors, outdoors, daytime, evening, etc.) in a known manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates the construction of the vanity 20 in more detail. The working surface 32 may be covered with a plastic laminate or other suitable material which is resistant to spills and moisture, and easy to clean. The front panel 22 is connected to the bottom panel 24 with one or more hinges 38 and may also be connected to the side panels 26 with one or more lid supports 40 or suitable equivalents to provide stability and prevent it from dropping past a horizontal use position. The top panel 28 may similarly be provided with one or more lid supports 42 or suitable equivalents to prevent the top panel 28 from moving too far past vertical in the open position. If desired, the lid supports 40 may be of an adjustable type to allow the top panel 28 to be fixed at a specific angle.

When not in use, the vanity 20 is completely hidden inside the dresser 10 and consumes no floor space. When opened as shown in FIG. 2, it provides a convenient working area as with a conventional vanity. The height of the bottom panel 24 may be set to correspond to an average sitting height of a user. The interior volume of the vanity 20 may also be used to store cosmetics, toiletries, and the like in the closed position. It should be noted that the dresser 10 is merely an example, and the vanity 20 may be incorporated into any item of furniture large enough to contain it.

FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the dresser shown in FIGS. 1-4. The embodiment of the dresser shown in FIG. 5 includes a smaller, halogen light 36′, rather than the larger fluorescent lamp shown in 3-4. These lights 36 and 36′ are shown by way of example, however, not by way of limitation. Any device capable of illuminating a space in front of the mirror can be used.

The foregoing has described a dresser with a vanity. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation. 

1. A furniture unit including a case comprising a drawer in a front of the case having a front movable from a closed position concealing a vanity within the case to an open position exposing a top of the drawer openable to provide a mirror and a light mounted to the top.
 2. The furniture unit according to claim 1 wherein the drawer front is movable into position with respect to a drawer bottom to form a substantially continuous working surface.
 3. The furniture unit according to claim 2 wherein the drawer front is pivotably connected to the drawer bottom.
 4. The furniture unit according to claim 3 wherein the drawer front is retainable in the position forming the substantially continuous working surface.
 5. The furniture unit according to claim 4 wherein the top comprises a front and a rear and the front is pivotably connected to the rear.
 6. The furniture unit according to claim 5 wherein pivoting the front of the top provides the mirror.
 7. The furniture unit according to claim 6 where in the light is battery powered.
 8. A furniture unit comprising a plurality of drawers in a front surface of the unit, one of the drawers comprising: (a) a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel; (b) a bottom panel coupled to the front panel; (c) a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel; and (d) a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position.
 9. The furniture unit according to claim 8 wherein the continuous working surface comprises a plastic laminate.
 10. The furniture unit according to claim 9 further including a pair of opposed drawer slides, each of the pair connected to one of the opposed side panels.
 11. The furniture unit according to claim 10 wherein the bottom panel is coupled to the front panel with at least one hinge.
 12. The furniture unit according to claim 11 further including a fixed section of the top panel.
 13. The furniture unit according to claim 12 further including a hinge connecting the pivotable section of the top panel to the fixed section.
 14. The furniture unit according to claim 13 further including a lid support for retaining the pivotable section of the top panel in the open position.
 15. The furniture unit according to claim 14 further including a lid support for retaining the front panel in its open position.
 16. A drawer for a furniture unit, the drawer comprising: (a) a front panel movable from a closed position to an extended position and pivotable from an upright position to an open position to form a continuous working surface with a bottom panel; (b) a bottom panel coupled to the front panel; (c) a pair of opposed side panels each coupled to the bottom panel; and (d) a top panel including a section pivotable for storage inside the unit when the front panel is in the closed position and pivotable to provide a mirror and a light when the front panel is in the extended position. 